By Nauman Farooq
For the 2015 model year, Lincoln introduced a new crossover (CUV) to their line-up, and called it the MKC. It was based on the platform of the Ford Escape, but the Lincoln version looked completely different, had a much nicer interior, and even had more powerful powertrain options.
While it sold well enough, it didn’t exactly steal a lot of sales away from crossovers sold by BMW, Audi, and Lexus.
For 2020, the MKC gives way to the Corsair (as part of Lincoln’s smart plan to give their models actual names, rather than an alphabet soup), and this one too is based on a Ford Escape – but the two vehicles look completely different inside out, and again there are powertrain differences. In fact, think of the new Corsair as a miniature Lincoln Navigator, with most of its features and finishing’s. Question is, will the Corsair pull in customers from rival brands?
Time to find out!
Styling: The Europeans have been the most active and daring when it comes to the design of their CUVs, but Lincoln might have outdid them all! The Corsair is a beautiful design – it looks elegant from every angle – with touches that one would associate with luxury vehicles.
Perhaps the reason behind Lincoln’s recent design prowess is Moray Callum, who is the vice president of design at Ford and Lincoln. Callum is European (Scottish, to be exact), which might go on to explain Lincoln’s new design flair.
Personally, I think the Corsair looks fantastic, and it will lure in buyers who never looked at Lincoln before!
Interior: If the exterior design brings people to Lincoln dealerships to give the Corsair a closer look, the interior is what’s going to make the sale!
The 2020 Corsair has the nicest interior I’ve come across in a SUV/CUV since… well, since I drove the Navigator last year. The fit and finish is just magnificent, everything you look and touch has a high quality feel to it.
It’s not just looks either, there are features in the Corsair that would rival premium luxury vehicles, such as Maybach – I’m not kidding!
The front seats are heated and cooled, plus they have a massage function, and you can adjust your thigh support for each leg. The Navigator was the first vehicle to offer such seats, and what I said about that a year or so ago, I’ll say it again: these are the best seats ever fitted to a production luxury vehicle.
Couple that with a comprehensive and easy to use infotainment system, a Revel sound system that can rival a cinema, and plenty of space for a family of five and their groceries, and you end up with a vehicle that simply satisfies just about everyone – but how does it perform?
Powertrain: Two engines are currently offered on the Corsair, both are turbocharged four-cylinder units. The base engine is a 2.0L lump which produces 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. The upgrade unit displaces 2.3L and produces 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque.
In Canada, all Corsair models offer all-wheel drive, and the only transmission on offer is an eight-speed automatic, which is controlled via what Lincoln calls the “Piano Key Shifter.” It’s a row of buttons that take the role of a traditional gear shifter, and while the buttons take a little getting used to, they look great and go with the luxury theme of this vehicle.
Performance & Driving Dynamics: There are vehicles built to burn rubber and attack corners! Lincoln very well knows that its buyers are more interested in comfort and tranquility rather than creating a ruckus.
As such, the Corsair is not going to give a Porsche Macan or an Audi SQ5 a hard time on a twisty country road, but you can rest assured that the people in the Corsair are going to emerge from their journey feeling a lot fresher!
The reason for that is because the Corsair is very well insulated, so most unpleasant noises don’t get in the cabin, plus the suspension tuning is quite soft. While 295 hp is a decent amount, the engine never eggs you on to go faster and faster, so you end up just sitting back and enjoying the plushness of the vehicle. This also helps fuel economy.
Fuel Economy: In my fuel economy test (where I drive a vehicle 170 km on the highway + 130 km in the city) the 2020 Corsair averaged 9.2 L/100 km – that’s actually a better figure than what Lincoln advertises.
Pricing: The entry level 2020 Corsair will set you back $44,200. If you get carried away with the options list, things can get rather expensive! Our tester was worth just over $67,000 – and you can easily stretch one to about $70,000.
So, it’s not cheap, but after you spend some time with one, you’ll realize that it is also very satisfying – so money well spent.
Verdict: Earlier this year, we tried out the new Lincoln Nautilus, which replaced the MKX model in Lincoln’s line-up; and were really not impressed by it. It didn’t look or feel like a leap forward from where the old model left off!
With the Corsair, Lincoln has distanced itself massively from the outgoing MKC model, and have done a brilliant job of creating the ultimate luxury crossover. Well done, Lincoln, the Corsair should be a hit with buyers; it certainly deserves to be.